Vermont: Montpelier, Family Vacation Fun - Champlain Celebrations All Summer Long. 
Celebrating and sharing history with children can be both fun and rewarding. While Vermont always has interesting events this year commemorates the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of the lake that bears his name so it is not surprising that the summer schedule has a rich variety of special events ideal for families.
The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial is an opportunity for visitors to engage in American history and celebrate the events surrounding de Champlain’s discoveries. As any fifth-grader will explain, Samuel de Champlain was a French explorer from Brouage, France and he is the same guy who also founded Quebec City in 1608. As the story goes in early July 1609 Champlain, his guides and a fleet of 24 canoes entered the lake (now known as Lake Champlain) from the north. The 400th anniversary commemorates this important historical moment in the region’s history – the first contact between European and Native American cultures in what is now known as the Champlain Valley.
Summer events commemorating the 400th visit will be held in Burlington, Bristol, Isle La Motte, Plymouth, St. Albans, Shoreham, South Hero, Vergennes, Winooski, and many other communities throughout the state.
Events taking place in 2009 will include a host of musical performances, art exhibits, bike and paddling tours, culinary events, history and natural history tours, interactive activities, cultural demonstrations and community festivals. We have included the highlights for review.
Isle La Motte to Benson Landing. All summer long enjoy guided hikes and trips by canoe, bike and kayak; participate in culinary events; attend festivals, symposia, classes, lectures, and living history events; see art, history, photography and natural history exhibits. There will be fiddles, concertinas, oboe and voice performances as well as circus arts and fine arts from all parts of the state.
St. Albans Franco-American Heritage Festival Signature Event (June). Celebrate the long, rich cultural heritage of Franco-Americans as well as the natural history of the Lake Champlain region. Musical performances, historical exhibits, recreation, art displays, genealogy, and much, much more
Lake Champlain: Checkout Historic Shipwrecks. Lake Champlain is one of the nation's most historic waterways and contains about 300 shipwrecks dating back to the 1700s. These wrecks include military, commercial and private vessels that provide a direct connection to the past. Today, the state maintains underwater historic sites for scuba divers, and visitors can also see these shipwrecks by taking a shipwreck boat tour equipped with ROV equipment.
Burlington: Champlain Burlington International Waterfront Festival (July).
Celebrate in Burlington’s Waterfront Park and Environs. The resplendent lake-side city will host an unforgettable eleven-day extravaganza featuring music, comedy, film, theater, writers, dancers, new technology, lake ecology, and special events. There will be youth workshops and performances; the staging and broadcast of an original radio variety show; world-class performance events--featuring artists from Vermont, New York, Quebec, and France. Look forward to multi-faceted Native American and Franco-American showcases, dynamic history forums, invigorating lake walks and waterfront activities, poetry readings, headline music concerts, and fireworks extravaganzas.
Bonus points: On Saturday, with each of Vermont's towns and the entire Champlain Valley converging on the city, Burlington will host a mammoth parade and day-long celebration culminating in a stunning pageant and international fireworks spectacular. (Big picture at
www.CelebrateChamplain.org)
Lake Champlain Bridge Chimney Point, VT and Crown Point, NY - Festival of Nations/Fete des Nations (September). Join an intercultural, international and many-nations celebration taking place on both sides of the lake in Vermont and New York. The Champlain Bridge itself, a literal and figurative connection between regions, will host activities including performances, living history demonstrations, a boat parade, and the Northeast Atlatl Competition.
Content and images provided by Vermont tourism. Copyright 2010.
